Maiden flight of the Airbus A350

Airbus A350

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane takes off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport, southwestern France, on its first test flight on June 14, 2013, in a milestone for an airliner that the firm hopes will challenge Boeing's 787 Dreamliner in the lucrative long-haul market.

The A350 -- more than half of which is made of light composite materials that reduce fuel costs -- was crewed for its maiden flight by a British and a French test pilot assisted by a flight engineer and three other engineers at the back.

Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus A350

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane is about to take off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport, southwestern France, on its first test flight on June 14, 2013. More than half of the A350 -- Airbus' first all-new plane in eight years -- is made up of lightweight carbon-fiber designed to save on jet fuel, which makes up half the cost of long-haul flights.

Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus A350

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane is about to take off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport, southwestern France, on its first test flight on June 14, 2013.

Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus A350

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane is about to take off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport, southwestern France, on its first test flight on June 14, 2013.

Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus A350

People attend the take off of Airbus' next-generation A350 plane from Toulouse-Blagnac airport, southwestern France, on its first test flight on June 14, 2013.

Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus A350

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane takes off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport, southwestern France, on its first test flight on June 14, 2013. The maiden flight sets the stage for intensifying competition with U.S. rival Boeing in the long-haul wide-body aircraft market.

Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus A350

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane takes off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport, southwestern France, on its first test flight on June 14, 2013.

Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus A350

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane takes off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport, southwestern France, on its first test flight on June 14, 2013.

Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus A350

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane takes off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport, southwestern France, on its first test flight on June 14, 2013. The first flight was expected to last around four hours.

Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus A350

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane flies over Toulouse-Blagnac airport prior to landing at the end of its first test flight on June 14, 2013.

Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus A350

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane flies over Toulouse-Blagnac airport prior to landing at the end of its first test flight on June 14, 2013.

Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus A350

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane lands at Toulouse-Blagnac airport, southwestern France, at the end of its first test flight on June 14, 2013. The maiden flight was crewed by a British and a French test pilot assisted by a flight engineer and three other engineers at the back.

Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus A350

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane lands at Toulouse-Blagnac airport, southwestern France, at the end of its first test flight on June 14, 2013.

Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus A350

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane is pictured after landing at Toulouse-Blagnac airport at the end of its first test flight, on June 14, 2013.

Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus A350

The crew which operated Airbus's next-generation A350 plane's first test flight is applauded after landing on the airstrip of Toulouse-Blagnac airport, southwestern France, on June 14, 2013.

Credit: ERIC CABANIS/AFP/Getty Images

Airbus A350

The crew of Airbus's next-generation A350 plane that operated its first test flight is applauded after landing at Toulouse-Blagnac airport, southwestern France, on June 14, 2013.